<p>I assume this is a common topic brought up, but I wanted to gather some thoughts here as it seems like most topics (threads) here about REU's end up around 2-6 replies long.</p>
<p>I'm a pure math major right now, in my freshmen year of college. I currently have a 4.0 in my one math class so far, with a 3.9 elsewhere. I am interested in a REU for math in the future. Not this summer, because I'm only a freshmen and won't be accepted and I already have plans to take additional classes elsewhere, but perhaps after my sophomore or junior year of college.</p>
<p>Am I right that these are the only REU's for undergraduates in America? Or are these just the best REU's that were picked? I'm surprised, because I see some big-name universities that don't have programs here, perhaps they have other priorities. Research</a> Experience for Undergraduates Summer Programs</p>
<p>My second thought is, if I wanted to apply as a sophomore, what would be my best math preparation in order to maximize my chances of getting accepted? I know it's tougher than being a junior applicant, but I am aware that sophomores get accepted occassionally.</p>
<p>What courses in math do you recommend I take for a math REU? Right now if all goes to plan, I'll be able to get these courses passed at the end of my sophomore year: (1) Multivariable Calculus (2) Discrete Math (3) Statistics (Intro course, with calculus), (4) Linear Algebra (5) Real Analysis of Calculus (6) Abstract Algebra. Is there any other additional background or important courses that I should take?</p>
<p>Last thing - has anyone done two REU's? One after the sophomore year, and one after the junior year?</p>
<p>Edit: I guess I should have said this before, but my math professor last semester recommended that I join a REU in the future. I guess that's a good thing.</p>
<p>You should also look on the NSF’s website for schools that offer REUs. I think they’re the main sponsor of them, so they’d have the master list. There are also schools that don’t have programs funded by the NSF, but do their own internal thing, so you’d have to look on a school by school basis for that (Caltech is a good example with their MURF/SURF programs).</p>
<p>Your classes won’t matter a whole ton; I’d just recommend taking whatever you’re interested in, and apply to schools with programs doing stuff you’re particularly interested in. I was part of an REU a few years ago, and while I had a great experience, a few people in the program were working on projects they weren’t interested in, so their experience was pretty negative.</p>
<p>Also, I wouldn’t discount not being able to an REU as a freshman. I did one last summer, and I know quite a few other freshman who did also - all in math.</p>
<p>REUs are meant as a way of giving students from non-research-centric universities a chance to work with a professor doing real research. I think their main goal is to push students towards graduate school and let them figure out early if a career in research is up their alley or not.</p>
<p>The NSF website has a more comprehensive list of the sites, but yes, they are for American citizens or permanent residents, and they all (more or less) take places in the US. It’s important to note they are very, very competitive, so next year when youa pply, you should apply to several.</p>
I also know that it depends on which topic I sign up for. Hopefully the ones I want are less competitive. :)</p>